After the officials had finished speaking, Sima Lie slowly rose and said in a cold voice, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"The Ministry of War has received an urgent military report from the front lines. General Zhao Hu has mismanaged his troops, underestimated the enemy, and advanced recklessly, resulting in the ambush of 200,000 troops by the Xiongnu. After the defeat, he abandoned the cities of the three prefectures of Hexi and deserted in the face of battle. This battle has severely damaged our army's morale and tarnished our national prestige! We request Your Majesty to punish Zhao Hu for his defeat and immediately issue an edict to exterminate his entire family! Empress Zhao Lan should also be executed immediately!"
"Moreover, according to the Ministry of War's investigation, this defeat is also inseparable from the dereliction of duty by Zhang Tang, the Duke of Zhuguo! Ever since Zhang Tang was exiled by the Emperor to the military horse farm to raise horses, he has harbored resentment and deliberately withheld funds from the horse farm and mistreated the military horses, resulting in poor horse health, rampant disease, and a complete defeat on the battlefield."
"I believe that Zhang Tang should also be executed!"
Sima Lie said with a vicious look, though it was a request, it carried an undeniable tone of command!
As soon as he finished speaking, the officials immediately chimed in with their own opinions.
"The Prime Minister is absolutely right. Zhao Lan interfered in politics and, together with his father Zhao Hu, controlled military power, leading to a crushing defeat. Not killing him would be enough to appease public anger!"
"We beg Your Majesty to issue an edict! Execute the entire Zhao family, including their nine clans!"
"Zhang Tang ruined the country and deserves to die!"
...
In the blink of an eye, the hall was filled with the sounds of battle! It was as if a coup was about to be forced upon the emperor!
Seeing this, Qin Yu felt a surge of anger, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he imitated the original owner's appearance, feigning fear and helplessness, and said with a trembling face, "What! The Grand Tutor actually suffered such a huge defeat!"
"Then...then are the Xiongnu about to attack! Quick! Issue an imperial edict to move the capital! Cede territory to sue for peace!"
Seeing the incompetent emperor on the verge of wetting himself in fear, the officials secretly felt contempt. Sima Lie sneered, "Your Majesty need not worry. I am already negotiating with the Xiongnu. They only want to annihilate Zhao Hu. As long as our army retreats to the border, the Xiongnu will not invade us even a step."
"In my opinion, to demonstrate our sincerity in the peace talks, we should immediately issue an edict to execute Zhao Hu and exterminate his entire family!"
Upon hearing that the Xiongnu would not continue their attack, Qin Yu's expression softened slightly, but he ignored Sima Lie's shouts of war.
Just kidding! If Zhao Hu is killed, that old scoundrel Sima will truly be all-powerful, with no rivals left!
At that time, would they still need this puppet emperor to get in their way?
Moreover, the other person Sima Lie ordered to be executed was someone whose life or death was intertwined with his own! Based on the fragmented memories in Yingzi's mind, Qin Yu remembered that Zhang Tang was a regent minister left to the emperor by the late emperor. He was loyal and unwavering, and was the most feared political veteran in Sima Lie's court! Because he had repeatedly angered the emperor, who could not distinguish between loyalty and treachery, under Sima Lie's instigation, this trusted advisor was exiled to the military horse farm to feed the horses!
That's like cutting off your own arms! Foolish!
As Qin Yu racked his brains for information about Zhang Tang's fate, he felt an urge to rush back and give the emperor's corpse another good beating! No! Such a loyal and important minister could not be allowed to be killed by Sima Lie! He had to protect this pillar of the state before he could hold onto it in the future!
Thinking of this, Qin Yu snorted coldly, immediately waved his hand, and squinted his eyes with a wicked smile, saying, "Prime Minister, you are mistaken. I still want to torture that old man Zhang Tang properly; killing him would be too easy for him. My heart is with my Empress!"
"These past few days, the Empress has served me quite well. I haven't had enough of such a stunning beauty yet, how can I just kill her on a whim?"
As he spoke, Qin Yu smacked his lips, seemingly savoring the memory.
"Not only must he not be killed, but to appease the Empress, I will also issue an edict to rescue the Emperor's father-in-law and let the Xiongnu name their price! It's just a defeat, my Great Xia is vast and rich, we can afford to pay for it!"
Qin Yu waved his hand boldly, and as soon as he said this, the officials below the stage were in an uproar!
This foolish emperor not only openly discussed matters of the bedroom in the imperial court, but also went so far as to cede territory and pay indemnities in order to please women!
Sima Lie's face also darkened. He hadn't expected Zhao Hu's daughter to be so cunning, managing to bewitch the tyrannical emperor in just a few days!
If this woman isn't eliminated soon, she'll become a major threat!
But just as he was about to continue his memorial, an elderly man behind him suddenly coughed and, leaning on his cane, shakily stepped forward.
Qin Yu glanced at him and realized that it was Jia Renyi, the descendant of the founding heroes of the Great Qi Dynasty, a veteran of three dynasties, and the imperial tutor!
He held immense prestige in the court, and even the late emperor treated him with great respect!
The next second, Jia Renyi's aged voice rang out first.
"Your Majesty is mistaken! As a ruler, one should prioritize the nation; how can one indulge in the pleasures of women? The Prime Minister's words are heartfelt; Your Majesty should immediately heed them!"
"In my opinion, Zhao Lan has interfered in politics and harmed the country. He should not only be executed, but the Prime Minister's daughter, Consort Jing, should also be made Empress!"
He adopted the airs of a veteran of three reigns and an imperial tutor, speaking in a reprimanding tone!
Upon hearing this, Sima Lie's face lit up with joy!
No wonder he's a veteran of three reigns!
His words demonstrated exceptional political acumen, not only forcing the tyrannical emperor to kill Zhao Lan but also conveniently securing the position of empress for his daughter—a double victory!
Sima Lie was extremely satisfied and turned around to smile and nod repeatedly at Jia Renyi.
Upon seeing this, Jia Dishi was flattered and immediately bowed with a fawning smile.
This scene filled Qin Yu with disdain; he was utterly disgusted by Old Jia's behavior of still licking Sima Lie's boots at his advanced age.
"Teacher, aren't you exaggerating? Does it concern you to tell me which woman I want to sleep with?"
Qin Yu's face was gloomy and his tone was icy. But Jia Renyi was not afraid at all. Instead, he sneered and raised his head, saying, "Why does Your Majesty have to get so angry? This old minister was just speaking frankly and offering his loyal advice."
"Since the late emperor chose me to be the emperor's teacher, then today, for the sake of the Great Xia dynasty, this old minister will remonstrate to the death!"
"If His Majesty does not grant the Prime Minister's request, then this old minister will smash his head against the Golden Palace today and die! I will go to the netherworld to meet the late Emperor and continue my remonstrance until my dying breath!"
After a passionate outburst, Jia Renyi threw away his crutch and started banging his head against a nearby pillar!
This trick never failed him; even the late emperor couldn't do anything about it and could only obediently submit!
Are you worried about not being able to deal with this good-for-nothing Qin Yu?
He let out two wails, and the next second, the officials immediately shouted and echoed him, vying to stop him!
"Your Majesty! Please grant Lord Jia's request quickly!"
"He was so loyal; we can't let a loyal minister die in vain!"
...
The officials cheered and encouraged him to pull the seedlings, but Jia Renyi pulled with increasing vigor and strength. Even three or five Renyi could not hold him down. He looked heartbroken and banged his head against a pillar, wailing loudly.
"Don't stop me! Let me die! The emperor has been seduced by women; it is this old minister's dereliction of duty!"
"Your Majesty! Have you forgotten the disasters caused by Bao Si and Da Ji that led the country astray?!"
In the blink of an eye, the Golden Palace was in complete chaos. Sima Lie secretly rejoiced and couldn't help but admire Jia Renyi's superb acting skills!
But just then, a thunderous roar suddenly rang out in the hall!
"Outrageous! To compare the Empress to Bao Si and Da Ji is to imply that I am a tyrannical ruler like King You or King Zhou!"
Qin Yu slammed his hand on the table, put on a furious look, and started cursing!
"I call you Master, and you actually think you're someone special? You even dare to lecture me? Do you really think I won't dare to deal with you?"
With a roar, before the officials could react, Qin Yu rolled up his sleeves and rushed down, grabbed Jia Renyi by the hair, and swung his arm to deliver several hard slaps!
Slap! Slap!
The slap completely stunned Jia Renyi. His eyes were filled with stars, and he covered his face, frozen for several seconds before he realized what had happened! It was Qin Yu who had slapped him!
"You...Your Majesty! I am a veteran of three reigns, even the late Emperor wouldn't dare treat me like this!"
Jia Renyi covered his face and shouted angrily! But what he was met with was Qin Yu's fierce and relentless iron fists!
"You old dog! You keep calling me the late emperor. Open your eyes and see clearly, I am now the emperor of Great Xia!"
Qin Yu unleashed a violent aura! He grew stronger with each battle, his massive feet stomping wildly on Jia Renyi's old face! The old man's mouth twisted and eyes slanted, and he screamed in agony!
The civil and military officials were completely stunned by this scene! The emperor himself tearing apart a minister was unprecedented and absurd!
Sima Lie was the first to react, and he hurriedly shouted, which required the officials to exert a great deal of effort to pull the two apart.
But Qin Yu remained as violent as ever, roaring with bloodshot eyes, "Old dog! Didn't you want to kill yourself to see the late Emperor? Fine! I'll grant your wish!"
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